Wedding cost · San Diego
Average wedding cost in San Diego, CA
A real 2026 cost breakdown for getting married in San Diego. Total for 100–150 guests: ~$60,000. Venue ~$21,000. Per guest: ~$480.
Average total
$60,000
Per guest
$480
Venue alone
$21,000
Model your own San Diego budget
Use our free wedding budget calculator to plug in your guest count, style, and priority categories. It uses the same percentages below — calibrated to San Diego pricing.
Full San Diego wedding cost breakdown
| Category | % of budget | Estimated cost |
|---|---|---|
| Venue & rentals | 35% | $21,000 |
| Catering & bar | 25% | $15,000 |
| Photography & video | 12% | $7,200 |
| Flowers & decor | 8% | $4,800 |
| Attire (dress, suit, alterations) | 6% | $3,600 |
| Music / DJ / band | 5% | $3,000 |
| Stationery & favors | 3% | $1,800 |
| Hair, makeup & beauty | 2% | $1,200 |
| Officiant & ceremony | 2% | $1,200 |
| Rings | 2% | $1,200 |
| Total | 100% | $60,000 |
The 5 biggest cost drivers in San Diego
- Guest count. Every guest is ~$150–$250 in catering, bar, rentals, and stationery. Trimming the list 20 guests saves $3–$5K instantly.
- Day of week. A Friday or Sunday wedding in San Diego can be 20–30% cheaper than a Saturday.
- Season. Peak (May–Oct) is the most expensive. Off-season (Dec–Feb) is the cheapest. May Gray and June Gloom — coastal mornings are overcast.
- Bar style. Full open bar vs. beer + wine + signature is a $5–$10K swing for 150 guests.
- Florals. Heavy installations (arches, ceiling, aisle) easily double a flower budget.
How to save 20%+ on a San Diego wedding
- Marry in the Dec–Feb off-season.
- Pick a Friday or Sunday in any month.
- Use the venue's preferred vendor list — most negotiate discounts.
- Beer + wine + one signature cocktail instead of full bar.
- One real bouquet for photos, dried/silk for everything else.
- Skip the favors (~95% are left on tables).
San Diego wedding venues that fit this budget
Browse wedding venues in San Diego, or use the venue finder to filter by capacity, budget tier, and style.
See the full California statewide wedding cost guide →
Wedding costs in nearby California cities
- Average wedding cost in Los Angeles, CA — $68,571
- Average wedding cost in San Francisco, CA — $80,000
Compare San Diego to other markets
- Wedding cost in Austin, TX — $32,857
- Wedding cost in Nashville, TN — $34,286
- Wedding cost in Charleston, SC — $51,429
- Wedding cost in Brooklyn, NY — $62,857
- Wedding cost in New York, NY — $108,571
- Wedding cost in Chicago, IL — $45,714
- Wedding cost in Miami, FL — $54,286
- Wedding cost in Denver, CO — $40,000
Track every dollar in one place
Wedding Planner Central turns your budget into a live, vendor-by-vendor tracker — free to start.